A junta member yesterday made a veiled attack against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who criticised the royal thinking on the sufficiency economy theory, saying the true colours of a traitor would prove to be his own downfall.

"The traitor is slated to be banished to live forever in the jungle because there is no place in society for a deceitful politician," Council for National Security (CNS) assistant secretary-general Saprang Kalayanamitra said, without mentioning any names.

Saprang spoke to a group of 1,000 local politicians, government officials and community leaders, rallying them to assist in uprooting the legacy of the ousted government.

He was on a tour of north-eastern provinces as part of a CNS campaign against the deposed regime.

"Civil servants should know they are dispensing duties on His Majesty's behalf, so they are not supposed to allow themselves to become henchmen for rogue politicians," he said.

"The CNS had to step in to usher in political reforms because of widespread power abuses."

It was everyone's duty to prevent a repeat of the grand-scale manipulation of the political system to hold on to power, he said.

"The irregularities plaguing the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport show how corrupt politicians rigged the state coffers and spread the money around to boost their power," Saprang said.

He said the CNS wanted to improve the political system so as to ensure that the rogue Thaksin regime could not regain power.

"If rogue politicians return to power following the next general election, the three pillars of society - the nation, religion and the monarchy - might crumble due to more attacks," he said.

After delivering his speech, he voiced optimism that politics would be back on track after members of the public realised what had gone wrong with the ousted government.

"The political awareness of each individual is more important than any changes in mechanisms," he said.

Saprang repeated his message in similar gatherings at Maha Sarakham and Udon Thani, where he talked to local government officials and residents.

He urged public officials to be proud of their dignity.

In Udon Thani, the general said "lackeys of some corrupt politicians" were campaigning against the CNS and the government.

"We already know who is the mastermind. But now he's overseas. As soon as he returns, I will have jail ready for him."

The Nation

Nong Khai